Case study Melbourne Commonwealth Games

Melbourne, Australia hosted the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Unlike a majority of hosts whose main objectives are focused on generating an economic impact and building an international profile, the Victorian Government also viewed the Commonwealth Games as having the potential to focus on social objectives as well. 

Village Park Development - formally the Athletes Village, famous for its low impact urban design and development initiatives
http://www.wtpartnership.com/index.cfm?l=en&c=&p=21aaa8f6-6029-469e-bf60-5ae403682b08&s=&projectid=251

The Government saw the creation of social legacy as one of the primary elements to the games success. An athletes’ village in the suburb of Parkville housed approximately 7000 athletes and staff during the Games, and has been transformed into commercial housing with distinctly eco-friendly image.

Another initiative taken by the Government was to get people back into the workforce. It also included getting people to volunteer at the Games and keep them involved afterwards. These programmes were built on lessons learned from the Sydney Olympic Games where the sudden increase in volunteers during the Games did not transfer to a long term increase in volunteer participation.

Melbourne 2006 Volunteers
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rickmonk/117636043/

It is reported, according to a research prepared for New Zealand Major Events and SPARC in 2007 that more than half of the Games’ volunteers (around 7000 people) have indicated they want to keep volunteering, while 41% of the general public indicated some level of desire to participate in a community event in the future. The possible social benefits here may include better civic participation and social inclusion for sectors of the society,